Today’s playlist was inspired after watching The Big Lebowski for the first time in many years and noticing that there is a super, fantastic version of Hotel California by The Gypsy Kings on the soundtrack. From there I went looking through my “favorites” list to mix in some old and new tunes to create a 50-minute interval playlist that I hope offers some fun & inspiration for your next workout.

Hotel California: The Gypsy Kings

A major plot point to The Big Lebowski is “The Dude’s” absolute hatred for all music from The Eagles so it always fun to hear when The Gypsy Kings version of their biggest hit pops up on the soundtrack. I love using this as a warm-up song as it has such a fun buildup.

Use It: The New Pornographers

I love this Canadian band and this tune in particular gives me “the happies.”

California Love: 2Pac

Can you believe this tune is 20 years old?! When it first came out I had just moved to NYC from Northern California and it made me miss my old home. The beat still kicks serious butt!

Every Teardrop is a Waterfall: Coldplay

Some people are divided on whether or not Coldplay is a decent band but I love their melodies and think that Chris Martin writes some of the catchiest lyrics in the business.

Criminal: Fiona Apple

OMG—I just loved this album back in the day and this song in particular sounds just as amazing now as it did in the 90s.

E-Pro:Beck

Beck is yet another 90s act who gets better and better with each effort. This is one of my favorites by him.

Locked Out of Heaven: Bruno Mars

What can I say about Bruno Mars except that he is so damn likeable and his music is just TOO much fun!!

Keep The Car Running: Arcade Fire

This is one of my “top 5” songs to perform sprints to and love watching my students facing when they peddle their butts off.

Black Gold:Soul Asylum

Wow—there is a ton of 90s on the playlist today? Not intentional but as I said before—these are some of my favorite tunes to use for workouts.

Starships:Nicki Minaj

I know she is not to everyone’s taste but I think Nicki Minaj is just so damn enjoyable and if you can find her on Instagram—follow right away!

Time to Pretend:MGMT

This is one of those bands that released an amazing first record and then “poof” they disappear. Time to Pretend is the standout song.

Moves Like Jagger:Maroon 5

Maroon 5’sAdam Levine has such a distinctive voice and uses it so well here—“I’ve got the mooooooooooves like Jagger!”

Weight of Love:The Black Keys

At first I thought this was some long lost Pink Floyd single which I mean as a compliment.

That’s all I have today folks. Let me know about some of your favorite songs and radio stations. I am always looking for good tunes.

(If you are reading this on a different site or a different feed than Brooklyn Fit Chick, it has been taken without permission.)

I love putting together playlists. The ability to be a coach while also indulging in my “secret DJ” side has brought me so much indescribable joy in my life that I could honestly when I hear a student say “I just love your music!” (Heart is beating faster and spirit is now soaring!)

So when I started to post them up on this here Blog I just sort of wanted to place to just PUT them. I honestly did not expect anyone to actually pay attention but have crazily formed relationships with instructors all over the world who have added some of my favorite tunes to their class playlists.

It makes this Fit Chick so happy to introduce Metric and Dear Rouge to other instructors and now I am asking YOU to send me your favorite song suggestions. Bring –em on and let us all dominate the world with one playlist at a time!

Let’s Go!

Shut Up and Drive: Rhianna

Rhianna is sort of a new obsession for me. I am just digging her style and grooving to her tunes as often as I can. This is a fun one to play at the top of the class to get their attention and get them focused on a high energy workout.

I Heard I Had:Dear Rouge

I am sort of obsessed with this duo from Vancouver who won a ton of radio competitions in the Great White North. Now I need to help them break big here in the States!

Swamp: Talking Heads

This is my opportunity to get just a wee bit self-indulgent and play one of the my favorite songs form one of my favorite concert films (Stop Making Sense) of all time.

I Will Wait:Mumford & Sons

Normally I am not a “banjo” kind of gal but this song is fun to get people moving their butts faster to keep up to the beat.

No Church in the Wild: Kanye West & Jay Z

I love, love, love this song so much and appreciate the Frank Ocean singing along with Kanye and Jay Z pretending to be bad asses.

Jingo:Santana

Okay gang—if you need a song to rev people up and push them—try this one from Santana that features a tribal drum beat that is off the hook!

Butterfly: Crazy Town

No idea what this song is even about but it is pretty damn great!

Chelsea Dagger:The Fratellis

I just got turned on t this band from Scotland and this tune makes me want to pump my fist in the air (in a good way, of course.)

Gold Guns Girls: Metric

This is another Canadian band I am determined to make more famous—one class at a time.

Poker Face:Lady Gaga

It’s been a while since I featured the shy and bashful LG in a playlist so why not today? (If you get a chance—go to You Tube and look up Christopher Walken reading the lyrics to Poker Face—it’s a gem!)

Tonight Tonight:Smashing Pumpkins

I like to use this song for a climb that finished with a big flourish—try it and see for yourself!

Heart is a Drum:Beck

A really dreamy tune and perfect for a cool down from the cooler than ever Beck.

That’s all I have today folks. Let me know about some of your favorite songs and radio stations. I am always looking for good tunes.

(If you are reading this on a different site or a different feed than Brooklyn Fit Chick, it has been taken without permission.)

Are you ready for a new playlist? This time I wanted to return to a few songs that had previously been “retired” from my classes plus introduce a couple of tunes you may not have heard before. This is a 50-minute interval “ride” that you can use on your next run, bike ride or treadmill workout that will help keep you motivated to keep moving.

So let’s get started and as always—send me your favorite song suggestions!

All of Me (Tiësto’s Birthday Treatment):John Legend

This is one of those songs that I find myself singing along to every time it comes on the radio and grateful I work from home alone so no one can hear me as I couldn’t hold a note with a handle. Anyhoo, here is a pumped-up of version to get your workout started.

Leopard Print Pill Box Hat:Beck

I am a big Bob Dylan fan and this might be my favorite cover of a Dylan song to ever. (Okay—All Along the Watcher by Jimi Hendrix is a strong number two.)

Come & Get It: Selena Gomez

I pray she did not write this for Justin Bieber… that little creep.

Breathing Underwater:Metric

Yesterday two of my boot camp dudes complained this song made “no sense” because “you can’t breathe underwater.” (Sigh—try to inject some culture in people and they get so literal!)

The World I Know: Collective Soul

This is one of those songs that always reminds me of the mid-90s (Sigh, again.)

Hypnotize:The Notorious B.I.G.

Be sure to use the “clean” version if you are playing this in a class!!

Let Forever Be: The Chemical Brothers

Noel Gallagher of Oasis co-wrote this tune and sings the vocals which is why it is so awesome. “How does it feel like—to wake up in the sun? How does it feel like—to shine on everyone?” Love it!

Paralyzer:Finger Eleven

This song gets the whole room to work harder and sing along.

Left Hand Free: alt-J

This is a brand new song from an indie based in Leeds, England and it made stop and take notice the first time I heard it.

Came Back Haunted: Nine Inch Nails

Trent Reznor came back from a long absence writing movie soundtracks to resurrect the Nine Inch Nails last year and this is my favorite song from that album. Perfect for interval sprints.

Sirens:The Pack A.D.

This band is from Vancouver and they can rock out.

Ring of Fire:Social Distortion

This is an example of a song that I used to play weekly and then just had to stop as it was starting to get on my nerves which is just NOT okay. Glad to be able to enjoy it again and hope you do as well! (The live version in the video is super-fun.)

Free:Phish

Oh stop your complaining Phish haters—this is a FANTASTIC song and you freaking well know it!

That’s all I have today folks. Let me know about some of your favorite songs and radio stations. I am always looking for good tunes.

(If you are reading this on a different site or a different feed than Brooklyn Fit Chick, it has been taken without permission.)

Are you ready to rock? Do you need some power music to crank up your enthusiasm? Well then today’s list is for you. If nothing else, take the first track listed below and crank it up to 11 and go kick some ass out there!

Whole Lotta Love:Led Zeppelin

This is one of those songs that whenever I start a class with it more than one person will shout out “yes!” The mighty Zep will get your butt in gear.

Leopard Print Pill-Box Hot: Beck

Beck redid a Bob Dylan for a charity album and managed to make it even better than the original.

Radio Song:R.E.M.

OMG—I miss this band!

Can You Read My Mind: The Killers

My absolute favorite song from The Killers—it put me in the best mood whenever I hear it.

Bit by Bit: Mother Mother

Once again I am falling in love with an Indie Canadian rock band. This song kills when played at full volume!

Diamonds : Rhianna

“Shine bright like a diamond!”

Paralyzer: Finger Eleven

Do you know the origin of the band name (giggling like a 12 year-old right now…)

Came Bach Haunted: Nine Inch Nails

One of the best bands I have ever seen live—ever!

Empire State of Mind:Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Yes!

Ragdoll: Aerosmith

I think this is my favorite of the late 80s Aerosmith (hated the power ballads!)

Bohemian Like You:The Dandy Warhols

If you are not familiar with this band check out the 2004 film Dig—one of the best music documentaries I have ever seen.

Rock Steady: Frank Turner

One of my students recently asked “who is Aretha Franklin?” I made them download this song first.

Year of the Cat:Al Stewart

I love the light piano music in the beginning the then the build to big guitars.

That’s all I have today folks. Let me know about some of your favorite songs. I am always looking for good tunes.